Engelbert dietrich



(No Model.)

E. DIBTRIOH.

UAR COUPLING.

No. 403,039. Patented May 7, 1889.

N. PETERS. Pnola-Lilhngnpher, Wnshinglon. o c.

UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENGELBERT DIETRIOH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH FOLZ, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,039, dated May 7, 1889.

Application filed February 15, 1889. Serial No. 300,008. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENGELBERT DIETRICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnat-i, in the county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to produce a car-coupler which will act automatically in coupling the cars, as will more fully herein.

ing left off.

The draw-bar A of each car is secured and held to place ,by means of a suitable metallic sleeve or bracket, a, made fast to the bottom end portion of the car, and also by means of the bar A, which passes through a slot (not shown) in the draw-bar A, said bar A being rigidly connected to the side frames, A of the car. Between said side frames is secured a cross-piece, A a suitable coiled spring, a, being interposed between the rear end of the draw-bar A and said cross-piece A to counteract the concussion produced when cars are brought together. Instead of the coiled spring, a suitable piece of rubber or other elastic material may be interposed between the crosspiece A and the rear end of the draw-bar.

The head B of each draw-bar has a slotted opening, b, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, and also in Figs. 3 and 4, in which the coupling-jaws O engage when the cars are coupled. The jaws O are pivoted between suitable lugs, Z), attached to the top of the draw-head, as shown.

Each jaw is provided with a slotted lug, D, in which the rod E operates, the latter being connected to the car-frame by means of the bars 6, attached to the sides of the cars, and also by means of the bracket-bearings c,

secured to the ends of the frames A, as shown in Fig. This rod E is bent substantially as shown, the central upturned portion of the rod passing through the slotted lugs D of the jaws. The ends of this rod are bent up, as shown, and are provided with the weighted balls E, as shown. When the cars are uncoupled, the jaws assume a position substantially as shown in Fig. 1, the lugs D resting against the front end of the platform of the car. Each jaw is preferably provided with a small hooked extension to engage the under face of the draw-head when coupled.

The operation of my improved car-coupler is as follows: When uncoupled, the weighted balls E on the bent rod E serve to retain the jaws in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1, as the said rod passes through the slotted lug D of each jaw. When the cars are brought together, the concussion produced by the meeting draw-heads acts as a blow or thrust to the jaws, (the lug of each jaw resting against the stationary platform,) which causes the jaws O to drop forward and engage in their respective recesses Z) in the draw-heads B. This bringing together of the draw-heads acc0n1 plishes the coupling of the cars, the jaws being firmly locked to place in the drawheads by reason of the weighted balls E, and also by reason of the extensions on the jaws engaging the under face of the draw-heads, as shown in Fig. 2. To uncouple the cars, the draw-heads are brought together, when the brakeman or other person takes hold of the rods E and gives them a turn backward, which causes the jaws O to become disengaged from the draw-heads and remain in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1, ready to become coupled again in the manner just described.

The advantages of my improved coupler are apparent.

The coupling of the cars is accomplished automatically, thus relieving the necessity of the brakeman going between the cars when the latter are coupled. The uncoupling is accomplished from the side of the cars, thus preventing any danger from entering between them.

The device is simple of construction and effective in operation.

\Vhile primarily intended to be used in connection with freight-cars, my improved coupler may be applied to passenger-cars with but slight immaterial alterations in the construction.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A car-coupler consisting of a draw-bar connected to the bottom end portion of a car, substantially as set forth, and having a slotted opening in the head thereof, in combination with a coupling-jaw pivoted to the top portion of said head and a bent rod passing through a slotted lug on the jaw, said rod having a weighted ball at each end, and suitable mechanism for connecting said rod to the car.

2. I11 combination with adraw bar and head suitably connected to the car bottom and frame, said head having a slotted opening, l), the jaw C, pivoted to the top of said head and having a slotted lug, D, bent rod E, passing through said slotted lug and having the jaw O, pivotally connected to the draw-head B, and rod E passing through the slotted lug D on the jaw, said rod having the weighted balls E on each end thereof, and suitable connecting mechanism for securing the rod to the car.

ENGELBER-T DIETRICH. Attest:

W. P. WHITE, En. STREH I. 

